Nutcracker March

The Story of the Nutcracker

Adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, The Nutcracker ballet was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892. The work enjoys great popularity more than a century after its creation. Because of its Christmas theme, it has become a holiday tradition for many families, and is unique among ballets in its wide-ranging appeal to viewers of all ages.

As the ballet begins, the Stahlbaum family is hosting a Christmas party. The entire family, including children Clara and Fritz, is engaged in the preparations. A large Christmas tree serves as the centerpiece of the stage, and as guests arrive, they begin to dance around it. No single guest stands out in the midst of the celebration – until Herr Drosselmeyer arrives with gifts for the children. It is here that the titular Nutcracker arrives; it is his gift to Clara.

However, Clara's time with her gift doesn't end with the completion of the party and the arrival of bedtime. After falling asleep with it under the tree, she awakens to find herself shrinking. In her smaller form, she is menaced by The Mouse King, and the Nutcracker must lead a group of toy soldiers to fight against him. The soldiers fight bravely, but in the end it is Clara who saves the day with a well-placed slipper to the head of The Mouse King.

The sense of wonder continues as an older Clara and the Nutcracker journey to magical worlds, such as the Land of Sweets. At the end of the night, she wakes up under the tree again, normal sized, with the wooden Nutcracker next to her.

The Nutcracker March Music

The Nutcracker March presents one of the most famous melodies of the ballet. It is a piece of music titled "March." However, instead of calling it, "The March from The Nutcracker", most take the more direct route of saying, "The Nutcracker March."

Those vaguely familiar with the story of The Nutcracker may be surprised to learn that it is not actually a dance performed by the Nutcracker as he leads the toy soldiers to victory over the Mouse King. Within the score, it appears early in the first act, and it plays during the general party scenes that set the stage for the larger story. It provides the soundtrack to the general merriment, with dancing and games among the partygoers.

Choreography

The party creates the focus for Nutcracker March choreography. Some choreographers choose to focus on the adult revelers, while others make it a children's dance. Dancers may perform in a circle, pair up, or dance in separate male and female groups. Choreographers that are best able to recreate the feel of a celebration create a constantly shifting mass of dancers.

The nature of the music makes it ideal for the use of accented or dramatic ballet movements, such as a grand jeté or frappé. Conversely, the party atmosphere is also ideal for loose movements that belie the precision required to accomplish them. These kinds of steps and arm movements create a more realistic party scene, as the average holiday guest isn't able to perfectly execute a grand fouetté or other complex ballet step.

Whether you attend a local performance or view one of the many recorded versions of the famous ballet, the next time you view The Nutcracker, look at the March with a more critical eye and appreciate the scene that is being set with the help of this famous song.